Protests in Northern Kurdistan continue – Kurdish organizations call for Europe-wide demonstration

Protests continued in several cities in Northern Kurdistan against the Turkish government's coup that deposed the elected co-mayors. A coup that Kurdish organizations see as a sign that the Turkish state has no serious interest in a peace process.

Meanwhile, on November 7, the solidarity network “Freedom for Öcalan – A political solution to the Kurdish question” in Germany, along with other organizations, published a call for a Europe-wide demonstration for the freedom of Öcalan and a peace process.

Their appeal states: "We are convinced that we have the opportunity right now to increase social pressure for a just peace in Kurdistan. [...] That is why we call on [...] to take part in the large demonstration on November 16 in Cologne."

Campaign against Turkey fueling genocide in Palestine

Last week, a campaign against oil exports from Turkey to Israel was launched with a major day of action. Protest events have already taken place in front of 25 Turkish embassies (including in Japan, Croatia, Turkey, England, Switzerland and the USA).

#Breaking: Protests in Dersim after the removal of elected mayor

After the Turkish state appointed trustees and removed the elected mayors in Dersim (Tunceli) and Pulur, the people of Dersim protested against the decision to neglect the peoples will. Despite Turkish police brutally attacking with rubber bullets, gas and water cannons protests continued throughout the night with the slogan: “Kurdistan will be the grave of Fascism”

The appointment of so-called trustees and the removal of elected representatives is a common practice of the Turkish occupation in Northern Kurdistan. Following the removal of elected Dem-Partî mayors in Xelfetî, Mardin and Batman around two weeks ago, fierce protests broke out, which continue in Batman to this day.

Islamist militias launch offensive in north-west Syria

In north-western Syria, Islamist militias have launched an offensive on areas of the Syrian regime north of Aleppo.

According to local reports, the militias are currently advancing towards the city of millions from the Idlib region. They have already captured several villages and smaller towns. A further advance is reported from the south.

At least 60 people are said to have been killed since the morning. The aim of the offensive is still unclear, but the Syrian army has sent reinforcements to the region and launched airstrikes.

The north-west of Syria has been held by Islamist military forces, such as the al-Qaeda successor HTS, for years. At the beginning of the civil war, the region was a stronghold of the opposition to Assad. Various actors, such as Turkey, armed the militias to assert their own interests.

@Jugendinfo

Islamists expand offensive in Syria

Islamist militias, such as HTS and SNA, have expanded their offensive in north-western Syria. They are now said to be attacking not only the Syrian army west of the megacity of Aleppo, but also the Shehba region further north, which belongs to the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Hundreds of thousands of Kurds who were displaced by the occupation of Afrin in 2018 live there.

During the night, militias allied with Turkey are said to be firing artillery at positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The first battles are said to have already taken place on the ground along the front line. Turkey also carried out air strikes on Tel Rifaat in Shehba and Ain Issa further east.

The SDF began to send reinforcements to the Manbij region during the night, although Shehba is an enclave trapped between Turkish-occupied areas and regime areas.

@Jugendinfo